Emmanuel Macron will travel to Brussels on Thursday October 23 to participate in the European Council, which will be held until Friday 24. This summit will bring together the leaders of the 27 Member States around two priorities: strengthening the defense capabilities of the European Union and accelerating support for Ukraine. On the defense front, the Commission will present a new roadmap aimed at better coordinating European military resources.
Among the proposed projects: a joint defense initiative against drones, an eastern flank surveillance device called Eastern Flank Watchas well as two major programs — European Air Shield And European Space Shield — intended to strengthen the continent’s air and space security. According to the head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas, the objective is to encourage Member States to “ working together on common projects ».
On Ukraine, leaders will discuss a “repair loan” financed by Russian assets frozen in Europe, estimated at nearly 200 billion euros. This plan, supported by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, aims to grant kyiv 140 billion euros in interest-free loans. Emmanuel Macron, who was initially reluctant, welcomed in Copenhagen a “very good thing”while insisting on respect for international law.
2 – Council of Ministers
Sébastien Lecornu at the Assembly.
© Serge Tenani
/ Hans Lucas via AFP
The government must examine this Thursday, October 23 in the Council of Ministers a letter of amendment to the Social Security financing bill (PLFSS) in order to include the suspension of the pension reform. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced before the National Assembly that he had referred this text to the Council of State, which will make it possible to formally include the suspension in the Social Security budget. This technical procedure, subject to the opinion of the High Council of Public Finances, modifies a bill already tabled and must be adopted by the Council of Ministers before being transmitted to Parliament.
Faced with questions from Marine Le Pen and Boris Vallaud, Lecornu confirmed that the suspension concerns both the postponement of the legal age and the extension of the contribution period. He reaffirmed that “the debate will take place in the National Assembly”either via an amendment or through this amending letter. Thus, the Council of Ministers on Thursday October 23 will officially ratify the suspension of the pension reform within the framework of the Social Security budget.
3 – Release of the 41st Asterix album, “Asterix in Lusitania”
This Thursday, October 23, Asterix in Lusitania, the 41st album of the adventures of the diehard Gauls, is released in bookstores. Signed by the duo Fabcaro for the screenplay and Didier Conrad for the drawing, this new opus takes Asterix and Obelix to the lands of present-day Portugal, between green coasts and steep streets of Lisbon. With a print run of 5 million copies, including 2 million in French, the album will be published in 19 languages and 25 countries – further proof of the vitality of a global phenomenon with 400 million albums sold since 1959.
After The white Iris in 2023, this second album from the tandem revives the tradition of travel, where humor, adventure and satire mingle. There we meet Viriate, a forgotten Lusitano hero, resurrected to embody local resistance against Rome. Faithful to the spirit of Goscinny and Uderzo, Fabcaro mixes winks at current events – outdated senators, incomprehensible pensions, free trade and globalization – and a tender look at French society. Asterix remains this mischievous mirror of “national genius” : grumpy, generous, rebellious and universal at the same time. A new album which, more than sixty years after its birth, confirms that the magic potion of our Gauls has lost none of its flavor.
4 – Trial of Grand-Charmont municipal councilor Ismaël Boudjekada for advocating terrorism
This Thursday, October 23 at 1:30 p.m., the trial of Ismaël Boudjekada, opposition municipal councilor in Grand-Charmont (Doubs), prosecuted for advocating terrorism, begins in Paris. The elected official, also an influencer followed by more than 500,000 people on the networks, appears before the criminal court for several online publications linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Already convicted in June 2024 for similar acts, Boudjekada was arrested on May 3 at Basel-Mulhouse airport, returning from Saudi Arabia, before being placed in pre-trial detention. He notably affirmed on X that the death of 1,200 Israeli civilians during the attacks of October 7, 2023 was “a little deserved”comments that sparked indignation and a report from the former Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau. He is also suspected of “doxing” (the disclosure of personal data), for having published the names of people who threatened him online.
Before the courts, he claims his commitment “for freedom of expression” and denounces a “political instrumentalization” of his trial. But the prosecution underlines the seriousness of his statements and his influence on the networks. The affair rekindles the debate on the border between militant expression and incitement to hatred in a climate marked by the tensions of the conflict in the Middle East.
5 – The good news of the day
Crazy match. PSG offered a real festival by crushing Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 this Tuesday, October 21 in the Champions League. Determined to confirm their status as European champions, Luis Enrique’s men delivered a brilliant collective demonstration. Despite a small slump in the first period, Paris quickly set the record straight, stifling a helpless Leverkusen in its own BayArena.
Vitinha shone brightly: an impeccable master of play, he dictated the tempo, delivered brilliant passes and scored the seventh goal with a masterful strike. Désiré Doué, repositioned in false nine, also made an impression with a decisive double before the break. Nine goals, two red cards and two penalties livened up this evening.
